The Backbone Trail segment from the Etz Meloy fire road to Yerba Buena is now officially open! NPS worked hard to make this happen and got an assist from the Trails Council, CORBA and the Sierra Club Task Force. The Backbone Trail is now officially complete and the trail was given National Recreation Trail status from the Department of the Interior.

Trail News - La Jolla Canyon in Pt. Mugu State Park trail remains closed - the rock surrounding where the trail went is unstable. Danielson Road (waterfall trail) and Upper Sycamore Trails are hazardous for horses and should be avoided by equestrians until further notice. The Trails Council performs restoration work on the trails throughout the park. Check our Trail Work page if you want to help rebuild the trails in this area.
Photos from Dave Edwards showing the extent of damage.
Other trail news... Trail Etiquette, notes from our last trail work outings, trail closures and so on.

Once again, our tireless trail crew had a year full of accomplishments. We contributed 78 volunteer days for a total of 4,578 volunteer hours while maintaining over 51 miles of trails. Our core group of a dozen volunteers averages about 225 hours per year! Some of the years highlights are Read more..

Trail maintenance is a vital part of preserving the trails and keeping them safe for trail users. Without regular maintenance, the trails would become overgrown or washed out, limiting their use and compromising the safety of trail users.

Greg Sweel has been selected as the 2016 Hank Grateful Volunteer of the Year! Greg, is one of the “unsung” heroes of the SMMTC trail crew. He also might be considered one of the “grey beards”, having started volunteering with the trail crew in 2002. He worked with and trained under the well known Milt McAuley before becoming a crew leader in 2005. Greg puts in close to 200 hours working on the trails every year!

Facebook Feed

Don’t use wet trails. If you are leaving prints (hoof, tire, or boot), the trail is too wet to use. When approaching muddy spots, go through the center of the mud to keep the trail narrow.

Stay on the trail. Do not go off trail (even to pass), create new trails, or cut switchbacks. Narrow trails mean less environmental impact and happier critters.

Respect. It’s a simple concept: if you offer respect, you are more likely to receive it. All user groups have rights and responsibilities to our trails, and to each other.

Whenever you stop for a view, a rest, or to yield, move off the trail so it is free for others. If you are selecting the spot for a rest, get off on a used area or a durable surface such as a rock or dirt. Don't just trample off the trail into a nice soft field of grass and flowers.

Do not block the trail. When taking a break, move to the side of the trail.

Smile. Greet. Nod. Every user on the trail is a fellow nature lover. Be friendly and expect to see other folks around every corner.

RESPECT: It's a simple concept: if you offer respect, you are more likely to receive it. Education with friendly respect will diminish negative encounters on the trail for all users.

COMMUNICATION: Let folks know you’re there — before you’re there. Riding up on horses and stock can be dangerous even for the best-trained critters. For bikers and hikers; 1. Make yourself known to stock and rider. A simple “Howdy” works to get attention. 2. Step downhill and off trail.

HORSES UPHILL: Horses and mules are prey animals. That means they think everything wants to eat them; even the hiker with a large, scary backpack and especially the fast-moving biker “chasing” them. When startled, frightened critters go uphill. You should move downhill to avoid an encounter with a 1,000 pound panicked animal. Yikes!

YIELD APPROPRIATELY: Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you’re coming - a friendly greeting is a good method. Anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to other non-motorized trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. In general, strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

REVERE THE RESOURCE: The Santa Monica Mountains have lots to offer for the active person. Help protect your accessibility by playing nicely with your neighbors and treating trails with reverence. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics and pitch in to give back - pick up trash, volunteer on a trail project or become a member of your local trail club. Take action and get involved today!

AVOID SPREADING SEEDS: Help keep weeds out of our local mountains. Noxious weeds threaten our healthy ecosystems and livelihoods. Stay on trail, drive on designated roads, use weed seed free hay, check your socks, bikes and horse tails for hitchhikers when you get back to the trailhead. Let’s keep our forests strong and clean.

BE INFORMED: It’s YOUR responsibility to be “in the know.” Questions about where to ride, trail closures, outdoor ethics and local regulations are important to know before you head out on the trails. Contact your local land manager if you are unsure about what you can and can’t do in a given area.

Yielding to Equestrians: In Colorado, a huge part of our heritage is tied up in riding horses. Bikers often scare horses. We are less familiar to them than hikers, so use caution. We recommend that as you approach an equestrian you call out a friendly greeting from far away. Slow the heck down, too. You want to start talking from about 50-75 ft away if you can. Like I said, horses spook easily, so try asking how the person on the horse would like you to get by. Would they like you to get off and walk (this is great for horses that are really skittish) or should you pass slowly at the next safe spot? From http://bouldermountainbike.org/content/trail-etiquette

Yielding to Hikers: This isn't a race, so yelling "On your left!" probably isn't the best thing. In years of practice, we've found that the best thing to do is to SLOW DOWN. We know, we know, it's harshing your mellow, but good interactions mean more open trails. Then just say something like "Hi there! Great day." People usually wake up to your presence without alarm. from http://bouldermountainbike.org/content/trail-etiquette

When hiking in a group, hike single file or take no more than half of a wide trail. Make sure everyone in your group understands what actions to take when encountering hikers, bikers, and horses.

Our Mission

The Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council, a volunteer nonprofit organization, is dedicated to establishing, preserving and maintaining the public trail
system throughout the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent areas through education, advocacy and partnership with public and private sectors.